USDA: Thunderstorm to Sweep Across Lower Half of the U.S.

USDA's Joint Ag Weather Facilitysays on the Plains, cold weather across Montana and the Dakotas contrasts with mild, breezy conditions across central and southern portions of the region. "Snow is starting to spread across Wyoming's High Plains," USDA explains. Meanwhile, it notes there is an enhanced risk of wildfire activity today on the southern High Plains.

In the West, USDA says a developing storm over the central Rockies is producing widespread precipitation and gusty winds in a broad area stretching from Arizona to Wyoming. "A variety of winter weather advisories and warnings are in effect across the mountains of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, and eastern portions of Nevada and Idaho," USDA adds. The precipitation is helping to boost high-elevation snow packs, according to USDA.

In the Corn Belt, USDA says rain and snow showers are developing across the upper Midwest, well in advance of an approaching storm system. "Meanwhile, mild, dry weather prevails across the southern Corn Belt," USDA reports.

In the South, warm weather is promoting early-season fieldwork and the growth of pastures and winter grains, USDA explains. "However, isolated thundershowers are developing from the central Gulf Coast region into parts of Georgia," USDA adds. Despite recent rainfall across the lower Southeast, half (50%) of Florida's pastures were rated in very poor to poor condition on Feb. 26, along with nearly one-third (32%) of Georgia's, USDA reports.

In its outlook, USDA says for the remainder of today, a potent, late-winter storm will continue to produce snow in parts of the Intermountain West. "Heavy snow will develop from portions of the Dakotas into the upper Great Lakes region, with blizzard conditions expected in some locations," USDA explains. It continues, "On Wednesday, snow will spread into parts of the Northeast, including southern New England. Farther south, late-February thunderstorms will sweep across the southeastern Plains, Mid-South, lower Midwest, and Southeast." A second storm will quickly trail the first system, resulting in mid- to late-week precipitation across the northern two-thirds of the West, according to USDA. By week’s end, USDA says additional snow will fall in the Great Lakes region, while showers will return to the South and East.